As with many other industries, the pharmaceutical industry is experiencing accelerated changes triggered by external factors, meaning it must keep transforming itself.

To help the company transform and achieve its vision, the Strategic Plan 2018 was introduced last year. In essence, Astellas Pharma’s activities, delivered through a corporate culture based on the highest ethical standards and integrity, aim to maximize the “outcomes that matter to patients” and minimize the “cost to the health care system of delivering those outcomes.”

Astellas Pharma is focusing on improving access to health in the four areas of creating innovation, enhancing availability, strengthening health care systems and improving health literacy.

An important part of the Strategic Plan 2018 is pursuing operational excellence. In practice, it means maximizing the use of the latest technologies, such as real-world data, robotic process automation and artificial intelligence. Astellas Pharma employees play the most valuable role in transforming the company and in achieving enhanced levels of enterprise value. Globally, the company promotes an internal culture called The Astellas Way, comprising five core values of patient focus, ownership, results, openness and integrity. After 14 years in one location, Astellas Pharma moved its Prague headquarters at the beginning of 2019. Rudy Kozak, the general manager of Astellas Pharma in Prague, explained the purpose behind this: “We did this in order to provide our employees with modern, open plan premises. As in other global companies, a focus on modern internal communication and collaboration and new-ways-to-work methods are being supported by state-of- the-art office technology.”

www.astellas.cz

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“It has always been our mission to become a leading company, not just for our customers, but also for our employees and the entire region,” said Shinichiro Yamaji, president of DENSO’s Czech operations.

“We have created a ‘value-focused’ business approach for our over 2,800 employees and we expect to continue achieving success in the coming years.”

Since Yamaji became company president in 2016, DENSO’s production volume in the country has increased by 10 to 15 percent. In line with the concept of kaizen (continuous improvement), the company is working evermore closely with European customers.

Almost all of DENSO Manufacturing Czech’s suppliers are locally sourced and its European production base has enabled the company to ensure product competitiveness. Today, customers include Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech, Suzuki, Volkswagen, Škoda, Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Porsche and Honda.

“We value the close relationships we have fostered with some of the largest automotive manufacturers in Europe,” Yamaji explained.

“Manufacturing close to our customers allows us to create high-quality products, reduce costs and overcome the challenges related to labor shortages. By upholding the spirit of kaizen and focusing on innovation- driven automation, we are in a strong position to further grow our business and better serve our existing and future customers.”

www.denso.com/cz/en/about-us/company-information/dmcz

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“Our market share and sales volume have consistently increased since 2013,” said Teufl. “The successes we have achieved reflect our commitment to the growing automotive market in the Czech Republic.”

With the popular Vitara, S-Cross, Ignis and Swift models, earlier this year Suzuki was ranked second among Japanese brands in the Czech Republic in terms of registered volume.

“Suzuki’s expertise in 4×4 vehicles is proving to be a huge advantage for us in the Czech Republic — our customers really enjoy the off-road capabilities Suzuki vehicles offer,” said Teufl.

In the Czech market, demand for new vehicles with more advanced technologies is at an all-time high and Suzuki customers can expect more technologically advanced vehicles in the future.

“We will offer ‘mild-hybrid’ vehicles or ‘Smart Hybrid Vehicles by Suzuki’ (SHVS) next year,” said Teufl. “SHVS technology provides better acceleration capabilities and reduces emissions; all at a lower cost.”

“As the automotive market in the Czech Republic is relatively advanced, we will continue to offer our customers new technologies that improve performance, fuel efficiency, connectivity and safety. Suzuki is a ‘way of life’ here and we will continue to play an increasingly important role in driving the Czech Republic’s automotive industry forward.”

www.suzuki.cz

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Providing its customers with excellent service has always been the focus of Hayakawa International Czech Republic s.r.o (HICZ).

Hayakawa has a 55-year tradition of excellence and includes more than 9,500 employees and 18 factories around the world. Its sales company in the Czech Republic is achieving its goal of delivering end-to-end assistance and quality services to clients across the region.

“Having an experienced and knowledgeable team working at our company in the Czech Republic allows us to give our customers excellent support,” said Masaya Taki, managing director of HICZ.

“Our production facilities in different countries around the globe give us an edge in terms of supplying customers and meeting their demands within a growing international market,” he added.

As one of the leading providers of wiring harnesses for the automotive and consumer industries worldwide, the company is taking steps to further develop its relations with Japanese companies active in Central and Eastern Europe.

Thanks to HICZ’s attention to detail and ability to tailor make products based on clients’ needs, the company has been able to grow and adapt to the rapidly evolving automotive and consumer industries.

Taki proudly revealed that the company has seen more than twice the growth in its sales since he came to the Czech Republic in 2013.

To develop business in the country, HICZ is making every effort to work with new customers.

HICZ achievements prove that by prioritizing the delivery of quality products and services, companies can succeed.

“Now and in the future, excellent service and world-class delivery at a competitive price will be at the very heart of our business,” said Taki.

www.hayakawa.cz

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“We work closely with customers and partners, especially across key markets like Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States region and Iraq to support the optimization of refineries, chemical and fertilizer plants,” said Veselý.

In terms of its sales team’s capabilities, the company is shifting focus from simply selling products to delivering complete service, maintenance and support solutions.

“Aligning with the country’s economic growth and industrial evolution, we are driven to provide end-to-end solutions for Japanese and multinational manufacturing companies in the Czech Republic,” said Jaroslav Sucháň, sales manager for the country.

CombustionONE is one example of an integrated solution for combustion-based processes which Yokogawa recently introduced to address the demands of the refining, chemical, specialty chemical, power, metals and pulp and paper markets where combustion control and management play an important role.

Sucháň also sees a great opportunity to help companies in the region facing a shortage of skilled labor through automation.

Yokogawa is looking for more talented engineers to grow with them and has partnered with Brno University of Technology and the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava.

“We are well positioned for future growth,” concluded Veselý. “Our competitive advantages are our flexibility in meeting our customer’s needs and the trust we have built with them through the years.”

www.yokogawa.cz

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“Some of the equipment we use for our operations includes two research reactors, LVR- 15 and LR-0, in addition to an experimental equipment that forms the backbone of the company’s research arm.”

The company went through a significant change from 2011 to 2017 with the implementation of the Sustainable Energy Project (SUSEN) through the Operational Program Research and Development for Innovations. This effort led to the modernization of both the company’s equipment and infrastructure.

With its expertise in the field of power gene ration, CVŘ has gained the support of several Japanese entities, including the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Nuclear Radiation Authority (NRA) and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

An important topic the Japan nuclear industry is interested in is the research of severe accident behavior. Most of this interest is from JAEA, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Tokyo Institute of Technology, with whom CVŘ has signed a memorandum of understanding.

A long-term collaboration studying radiation damage in concrete is also in the pipeline and involves CVŘ, Kajima Corp., Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. and Nagoya University.

Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel, Nippon Nuclear Fuel Development and JAEA are also discussing the development of accident tolerant fuel cladding technology with the company.

As CVŘ makes progress in the field of nuclear technology, its relationship with Japanese organizations will continue to thrive. More opportunities will also present themselves concerning the company’s development.

www.cvrez.cz/en
www.susen2020.cz/en
www.cvrez.cz/en/cvr-hosted-japan-companies-in-tokyo/

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In line with KSE’s growth, profits also increased as the company began to achieve success. “In 2004 we reached just over 300 million Czech koruna in sales,” said Spisar. “After 15 years of dedicated hard work, we have increased this figure tenfold and today, on average, every car worldwide is equipped with at least two KSE products.”

KSE has its own research and development center focused on product testing and innovation.

“Our research and development center is the only facility of its kind outside Japan and our 35 certified engineers continuously develop new products for KSE and our group,” said Spisar.

The company’s most notable products include the Glass-to-Metal Sealed squib (GTMS), Plastic Squib (PLSQ), Micro-Gas Generator and the Lead-Wire Micro-Gas Generator (LWMGG), a business that KSE acquired in 2006.

Looking ahead, KSE continues to prioritize safety and quality while remaining committed to corporate social responsibility initiatives.

“It is important for us to help society while we contribute to our group, invest in our people and continuously serve the needs of our customers worldwide,” said Ichikawa.

www.kse-cz.com/en/42-nk-group

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